Challenges

Set Up A Branch in Japan: Pros And Cons

Before setting a branch in Japan, you should be aware of the business culture there. Japanese people are notoriously hardworking. This is one of the many explanations why they have such high economic growth and are more advanced than other countries. However, the work culture of a Japanese white-collared worker is known for their long work hours, and there have been cases of employees literally being worked to death (called karōshi). Still, stories like this should not scare you away from pursuing a career in Japan. There are many opportunities for foreigners there and the Japanese government is making an effort to decrease its ridiculous long work hours. Cons Long…

Marketing in Japan

What You Need to Know About Digital Marketing in Japan

Even though digital marketing is a recent concept compared to other forms of marketing, it became an essential element for companies to attract customers. The number of Internet users increases every day, as the time spent in front of a screen. Still, digital marketing is not well developed in Japan, unlike in Europe or in America. It is certainly in progress, but Japan does not catch up its late, and here is the reason why. What Is Digital Marketing? First, digital marketing includes all forms of online strategy to reach brand awareness and increase the number of customers. Marketers use emails, social media, search engines, videos, websites, applications, etc. in…

Beginners

Crowdfunding: How to Succeed & Why Many Have Failed

Launching a crowdfunding campaign seems attractive, but do not rush: it is essential to know how it works and how to succeed. You might regret your mistakes, especially if you strongly believed in your project. If you are curious to see what kinds of products are successfully funded in Japan and what can be the results, check out our article here. Attract Supporters To reach your goal, you want to attract the maximum of supporters, or to attract big investors (‘angel investors’): it is important to know what they are looking for. But first, you need to find a catchy title and describe your project in detail. If possible or…

Marketing in Japan

Tips for a Successful Advertising Campaign in Japan

You gathered information about the Japanese market and created the perfect product? Now, you have to find the best advertising campaign to make it known and to make people buy it. Simply transposing the traditional Western model is not a good idea, so you have to either create a new campaign or adjust your global campaign. But do not worry, here are some tips to success in your project. Advertisements on TV and Outdoor   Yes, Japanese advertisements are known to be “funny”, “weird”, or irrelevant. Still, there is some logic behind them. In America, ads are supposed to be straight to the point and to focus on the product…

Beginners

What You Should Know About the Japanese Business Etiquette

Learning how to behave in a business context is essential to stacking all the odds in your favor, but it can also look complex because of all the small details you have not thought of. Here is an explanation of some of them, the ones you should know before meeting Japanese businessmen. Introduction and Greetings The first time you meet people, you will have to bow and greet them in a certain way. Usually, you have to shake hands while bowing, but you can also just bow, depending on the habits of the person in front of you. Saying “hello” in Japanese generally leaves a good impression, like knowing how…

Crowdfunding in Japan

What You Can Achieve Through Crowdfunding in Japan

Expanding a customer community, launching a product for a lower price, customers themselves supporting the project, etc. Crowdfunding has so many advantages that it would be hard to list them all, so today we will focus on why it is a good opportunity to seize, why it is gaining in popularity in the world and in Japan, and what kinds of product are successful in 2020. What Is the Crowdfunding? Crowdfunding, as indicated in its designation, is the idea that the “crowd” participates in raising “fund” for a project. Investopedia defined it as “the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals (called backers) to finance…

Startup Opportunities in Japan

Entering the Japanese Market for a French Startup

Japan seems to be a country far from France both geographically and culturally. The differences between the two countries can put a stop to one’s ambition to enter the Japanese market. From the way people eat to the way people trade, there are a lot to learn and to integrate. Still, there are many good reasons to do business in Japan. First, the population represents almost 2% of the total world population (in 2020), with more than 126 million people, including foreign residents. There are also a lot of strategic and cost advantages, like being able to set up a business entity relatively quickly, added to the fact that the…

Co-working spaces

Coworking Office Spaces in Tokyo

Shared work-spaces are becoming more and more popular within white collared jobs. Not only is it just a cheaper alternative for companies, but it has also become a popular choice for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. It enables their employees to have more flexibility and provides a different experience from traditional office spaces. Benefits of co-working Spaces First, good working conditions equate to good work. If you choose a bar or a café as your office, it will be noisy and your table will not be as convenient and large as a desk. You will not have everything within easy reach, in case you need more pencils, sheets or if…

Beginners

Six Tips to Ready Your Crowdfunding Campaign for Expansion Into the Japanese Market

So your company just successfully funded its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Congratulations! Maybe you’ve already started manufacturing of your product or even sales to consumers. Now’s the time to look into expanding to the Japanese market. If you want to succeed, you’re going to want to avoid the mistakes of companies that have come before you. You also should follow these six tips on how to best prepare your entry strategy into Japan. 1) Do your research The first step any company should take before stepping foot in Japan is substantial market research. This means understanding your sector in Japan, the existing competitors, and the needs of Japanese…

AI

Spotlight on the AI Market in Japan

One of the most promising tech trends of the near future is AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Definitions of what exactly AI is varies, but generally the term refers to computer systems’ technologies that are able to perform functions that replicate human intelligence and thought. As research and development of AI technology grows stronger, companies are constantly finding new potential applications, but also face the risks of overly intelligent machines that have long been the subject of dystopian sci-fi films. The U.S. and China are seen as the two leading countries for AI technology and development. The U.S. leads the development side with over 1,000 AI-related companies including Google, Amazon, Microsoft,…